2012 Winter Highlights

One thing I love about Wintertime is watching the bald eagles that nest near Deer Creek Reservoir.  One day there were six sitting near each other on the ice.  Their massive black wings are so easy to spot against the snow  and they are so beautiful and majestic.  Does it mean I'm getting old that I enjoy bird-watching?

Audrey was able to participate in a dance camp sponsored by our very own Wasatch Waspettes.  They only received 3 days of instruction, but Audrey had fun.  She is in the middle at first, but comes to the front row half way through.  She has such a light in her!  

Tyler played in a Junior Jazz league in January and February.  He did a great job  and seemed to really have fun with it.  His greatest claim to fame was when, in the last few seconds of a game, he chucked the ball from the opposite 3 point line and swooshed the last basket of the game.  The crowd went wild, the refs threw their arms up in amazement, the high school basketball coach was going crazy, and Tyler's team was going crazy.  He had quite a few people talking about it for days after.  If only we had been videoing!

Isaac also played in a competitive basketball league that he has played with for a year.  They worked really hard, practiced twice a week, and took 1st in their division!  They are a great bunch of kids.

Isaac and his team top left to right:  Ben Harris (coach), Conner, Will Richards, Isaac Burton, Davin, Sam Ballsteadt (off to the side.  He was one of the coach's 4 year old sons who would give the team pep talks).
Bottom row:  Will Harris, Jude Ballesteadt, Hawke Ballsteadt, McGuire Law   (Not pictured:  Coaches Joe and Jamie Ballsteadt)

We are the champions!

Jon and I went on a special date to BYU's Traditions Ball, hosted by the Alumni Association.  My brother-in-law, Curtis, was actually in charge of it, so we had great "connections."  It was a wonderful night full of dancing to a live band, delicious refreshments, and entertainment in an amazing atmosphere.  I hope the BYU Traditions Ball can become an anuual special date night for Jon and me.  We loved it!

It was so fun to dress up in formal attire.  As a mother of 4, I don't get that chance very often!  I did wonder what I was going to wear, but I remembered some fancy dresses I had seen in my Mother-in-law's basement.  Lynda was a Home-Ec. major at BYU and became quite a gifted seamstress.  This is one of the dresses that my mother-in-law made in the 60's!  What some people see as "old,"  I see as "vintage."  When someone said they loved my dress and asked where I had found it, well, it made for a good story:)

Moving on......

..........and the rest of 2011 was great.  Wait.  I digress.  My kids would be very sad if I didn't post this video.  However, it does need an explanation:  You see, my sister, Katie, has this amazingly creative family and amazingly talented kids who put on a puppet show every Christmas for their family.  I thought that was a great idea.  Having said that, please do not compare our puppet show to the Isaak's.  Comparing just ain't that fun!  So, without further ado....here is the Burton's version of a Christmas puppet show.  Just in case you get a little lost, the point of the whole thing was that "what goes around comes around."  I'm sure you got that though, right?

In the merry merry month of May (2011)

My father-in-law, Neal, has said that May is his favorite month because the Heber Valley looks so beautiful. I would have to agree. Driving from Heber towards the mountains, I simply stare and the beautiful vista in front of me. I love the contrast of the blue sky with the white snow-capped mountains, and then the white mountains, contrasted with the green grasses and leaves. No doubt there is a Creator, and He is an Artist.

View of Mount Timpanogos from our house. Can you see the Indian Princess lying down across the top? Great Indian legend about this mountain. My favorite view in the valley!

I don't know what the kids would do all Summer without a trampoline. The joy and unity it brings to my children has outweighed the injuries.........so far.

Nate....up close and personal!
When he wasn't on the trampoline, Nate was on his bike.
And Isaac playing basketball.
Audrey received the Academic Achievement Award in her first grade class.
Audrey's 7th birthday on field day!
Audrey's friends who came to celebrate her birthday: Allison Besendorfer and Lily Child.
Memorial Day at the Richmond Cemetery in front of Grandpa and Grandma Lewis's headstone.
Great Aunt Dottie and friend at the Richmond Cemetery.
Nathan's favorite way to fall asleep--with his right hand in his left armpit!

Daddy Daughter Date--Spring 2011

Once again, dear followers, there is no typo on the date. Just go with me on this, okay? Last Spring we had a Daddy Daughter Date for the Activity Day girls and their fathers. Since Audrey and Lucy were the daughters of the organizers, they got to go on a date with their dads as well! I didn't want to be date-less, so I asked my own "daddy" to be my date. He still has the moves, and was a very good sport to come with me. I didn't make him participate in the relay game, however. That was for the best since Jon is such a stiff competitor. He probably would have tripped one of us just to get ahead (notice the picture with everyone lined up along the stage and you will see what I mean!) The relay consisted of the girls tying a tie on their father/grandfather and the fathers painting the girls' nails and making a braid in their hair. The funnest part of the night was, in my opinion, the dancing. It was a fun and unique experience to see these dads get "down" and sometimes down-right goofy with their daughters.

Audrey and "Opa in Idaho"

Audrey with her date, Jon (dad)

Dinner table with Kate and Bill Hosack

My groovy disco dad!!!

With these girls, it is hard not to have fun!

Ready, set, Kym goes last!

Kam the beautician

Morgan tying grandpa's (Alan's) tie

Sharing my Mormon.org account

Cute videos by the Burton kids

One night, Tyler, Audrey, Isaac and I had a little dance party. Tyler and Audrey made up a dance together and even though they will probably be mad that I put this on the blog, I just couldn't help it. Jon and Nathan were already asleep, so we had to turn the music really low. I wished we would have turned it up a little bit, but alas, we didn't, and I've already tried to talk them into doing it again with louder music and they won't. It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. At least I got it on film!!!

In case you can't hear the music, the song they are dancing to is "You should be dancing" by the BeeGees. I think we had just watched "Despicable Me" that night, hence the reason that song was chosen.

Isaac also wanted to get into the action. He did his own version of a "minion" dance. There are a couple of pretty funny parts. In fact, I am having a contest for the best description of what baby animal Isaac looks like when he falls against the back of the couch.

Nathan's video was taken a different day. I think it is the influence of older siblings, but sometimes Nathan does not seem like an innocent little 3 year old. Sometimes I wonder if he secretly goes out "clubbing" at night. He is pretty good at movin' to the beat.

The last video for this posting is of Isaac with a homemade bread moustache. If you have ever watched Arturo Trejo vlogs on YouTube, specifically the family game show episode, you will get this joke. If you haven't seen it, sorry. Inside joke:)

Audrey and Swiss Days

Ah yes. Swiss Days........Food booths, entertainment, and more crafts than you can stuff in your lederhosen. Last year, Audrey was in the Swiss Chorus. They performed a couple of times in the old town hall and were also able to ride in the parade. They were dressed in very cute Swiss outfits, but I'm not sure why they are called the Swiss Chorus, since the closest they got to singing any "Swiss" music was when they sang a couple of songs from "The Sound of Music." Still, it was a cute group of kids singing their hearts out.

I was only able to film one song, as the battery on my camera was about to die, but this was my favorite that they sang. So here is something to get you all looking forward to Swiss Days this year!